What to Do if Involved in a Hit and Run Accident

Understanding the Impact of a Hit and Run Accident

It's critical to understant the impact a hit and run accident and how to handle it if you've involved in one.

Hit-and-Run accidents have the potential to cause serious vehicle damage, significant injuries, and death.

In a hit-and-run wher one vehicle hits another vehicle, or pedestrian, and leaves the scene of the crash it can have serious legal implications for both drivers.

For the driver that flees the scene of an accident, it can lead to severe penalties and criminal charges.

For the victim, it can complicate financial recovery if the at-fault driver is not identified.

Even when the driver of the vehicle is caught, the majority of hit-and-runs are committed because the perpetrator is uninsured.

This usually forces victims to seek financial recovery for losses from their own insurance policy if they have coverage.

Hit and runs can further compound the emotions that follow a serious accident - frustration, confusion, stress, adding to the uncertainty of how to handle the accident appropriately.

If the motorist is not found it can limit available compensation options.

In cases where the victim's policy doesn't provide sufficient coverage to compensate them for their injuries it can be heartbreaking.

Continue reading to learn exactly what the best hit and run accident lawyers can do to protect your rights and uncover available compensation.

 

5 Essential Steps to Take If you are Involved in a Hit and Run

Any collision is traumatic and overwhelming event. A hit-and-run raises questions about insurance liability and if anyone can be identified to be held responsible.

The good news is, over 60% of hit-and-run drivers are identified after the fact when reported to the police. Additionally, in most cases your uninsured / underinsured driver insurance coverage will provide financial compensation in the event the other driver is not identified, so you aren't left footing the bill for your injuries and other damages.

However, hit-and-runs among the types of car accidents lawyers handle can be the most disappointing if the vehicle that hit you cannot be identified.

The following 5 steps are essential to take after a hit-and-run accident. Here's what to do:

Step 1: Assess Your Condition / Ensure Your Safety

If you've just been in a serious accident, the first essential step is to quickly assess your physical condition and safety situation. Check for any soft tissue cuts, wounds, or bodily damage that may require immediate attention. Determine if you can safely leave the vehicle if safety requires it, and turn on your emergency blinkers if appropriate. If you are able, see to the safety of any passengers or drivers of other vehicles that were involved in the crash.

Step 2: Get the license plate number of the hit-and-run vehicle.

If you are able, memorize the license plate of vehicle that hit you if you suspect they will, or are in the process, of fleeing the scene of the crash. Write it down the first chance you can, in order to provide it to the police when you report the accident. Try and take a photo of the car and license plate, ideally, or memorize as many number as you can.

Step 3: Report The Accident to the Police

Request emergency medical help if there are injured parties in need of attention, and report the accident to the police. Provide the license plate number to the police along with your best description of the driver and vehicle that hit you. This will help them identify the hit-and-run driver as fast as possible. After reporting your hit-and-run, provide what details you have to help the police at the scene create and file an accident report.

Step 4: Seek Medical Attention

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may have already been brought to the hospital by ambulance for treatment. If not, even if you feel physically o.k. after being involved in a hit and run, seek professional medical attention. Even if you feel you were'nt hurt enough for an emergency room, schedule an appointment with a doctor immediately. Treatment from a medical professional is vital to document the full extent of your condition as well as to potentially diagnose delayed injuries which may present after the shock and adrenaline wear off.

Step 5: Contact a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer

Before reporting the accident to the insurance company, you should seek legal advice from an experienced auto accident attorney. This is critical at this stage, as loose statements to insurers can harm your legal claims seeking compensation. Your attorney advise you what your insurance policy covers and will handle all communications with the insurance company to ensure you don't get railroaded. Seemingly innocent statements to insurers can negatively impact compensation recovery, and diminish what you would otherwise be entitled.

In the majority of cases, the police investigation will uncover the hit-and-run vehicle and driver. If they are insured, you'll be able to file a legal claim for compensation against their insurance.

In the event the responsible party isn't identified or the hit-and-run driver didn't have insurance your insurance policy's uninsured/underinsured coverage should apply. The amount you can recover and potential deductibles will depend upon your policy. Use the free legal consultation with an injury attorney to determine how much you may be owed.

 

 

Hit-and-Run Statistics

The following data reveal hit-and-Runs are more likely to happen after a fatal accident in the morning and are responsible for the majority of pedestrian involved fatal accidents.

• One hit-and-run crash occurs every minute in the United States according to AAA.
• 20% of all pedestrian deaths were caused by hit-and-run crashes in the same period.
• 737,100 hit-and-run accidents in 2016 in the United States. (NHTSA)
• 60% increase in hit-and-run crash deaths since 2009 according to the Insurance Information Institute.
• 65% of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or cyclists. (AAA).
• New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida have the highest rates of hit-and-run fatalities per capita.
• The highest percent of fatal hit-and-run crashes happen in the early morning hours.

The Police Report & Investigation in a Hit and Run Accident

The majority of hit-and-runs are identified after the fact during the police investigation. Providing the license plate number increases these odds, and any further descriptions or details can further contribute to a successful identification. Drivers who flee the scene of an accident, do so for a variety of reasons. They risk serious penalties for leaving the scene of an accident, being charged as a misdemeanor or felony in some cases depending on the seriousness of the injuries caused and the law. People who hit and run are scared of taking responsibility. They fear being deported for being in a car accident, even if unfounded, or may have been driving drunk or on impaired on drugs and fear what that could mean for them legally. Many do the right thing and turn themselves in before getting caught. Successfully identifying hit-and-run drivers is important as it allows victims to pursue compensation for bodily injury and property damage through that driver's insurance.

Does insurance cover a hit and runs?

The exact coverage will depend on the details in your policy. Standard coverage usually includes uninsured motorist coverage. Generally, a hit-and-run collision will be covered by the uninsured/underinsured provisions in your policy if the driver who hit you isn't caught. Depending on your coverage, you may have Uninsured motorist bodiily insurance (UMBI) coverage, uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), personal injury protection (PIP) in no-fault states, and medical payments coverage. Your attorney will be able to review the coverage provided in your policy which may entitle you to compensation for losses if the other hit and run driver and vehicle is not identified. Identifying the hit-and-run driver allows you to make a legal claim against their accident liability insurance. If you make a hit-and-run claim against your own insurance, it will go on your record, and potentially raise your insurance payment even if the accident was no fault of your own.

What if the driver gives you false information?

It's not unheard of for the driver who hit you to provide false information in an attempt to avoid responsibilty for the crash. Giving a fake name and phone number is another way of fleeing the scene of an accident. A driver providing false information is a real possibility when exchanging information after a crash. Ideally, ask to see their driver's license, registration and insurance card, taking photos if possible. Additionally, take photos of the vehicle and it's license plate, even if you don't feel you will be making a claim. Usually when a driver commits a hit-and-run it's because they don't have insurance or don't have proper documentation. Even if the information provided is false, it may help the police track down the responsible individual after the fact.

What Not to Do After a Hit and Run Accident

What not to do in a hit-and-run is as important as what to do. Don't make the following mistakes:

• Don't leave the scene of the accident.    Avoid the temptation to pursue the hit-and-run vehicle in a mistaken attempt to gather information or catch the driver. Stay at the crash scene and wait for authorities.
• Don't Confront the Other Party.    If you suspect the other driver will commit a hit-and-run, take the necessary photos to provide the information the police need, but do not try to restrain the other party or confront them.
• Don't Talk to the Insurance Company.    Avoid speaking with your insurance company before speaking with your attorney. Make no statements, share no details, don't say anything until you've been advised by your lawyer.